Townleap

Cost of Living: Funchal vs Lyon (2026)

Portugal vs France — relocation comparison

TL;DRLyon is 38% cheaper on rent ($972/mo vs $1568/mo). Funchal is safer — homicide rate 0.7 vs 1.6 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
68
Livability Score
🇵🇹 Funchal
Portugal
Full profile
75
Livability Score
🇫🇷 Lyon
France
Full profile
Lyon edges ahead 75 to 68. Funchal isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
💰
Cost of Living
Lyon
$597/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Funchal
0.7 homicides per 100k
🗣️
English
Funchal
higher proficiency score
Funchal
Metric
Lyon
$1568/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$972/mo
$487/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$823/mo
🧳
Cost to land
$4,220
0.7 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
1.6 / 100k
🚨
Crime perception
lower is better
59 / 100
24°C
☀️
Summer high
26°C
13°C
❄️
Winter low
1°C
Internet speed
146 Mbps
4.9 μg/m³
🌬️
Air quality (PM2.5)
11.4 μg/m³
8.1 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
8.0 / 10
72/100
🗣️
Street English
38/100
$52k
💼
GDP per capita
$63k
2.4% · Boringly steady
📈
Inflation
2.0% · Boringly steady
68 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
75 / 100
Grid reliability
93/100 — Reliable
🗽
Freedom House
90/100
📋
Time to PR
5 years

Settler Essentials

Democracy trend
stable
Industries
life-sciencesbiotechfinancemanufacturing
Startup ecosystem
active
Grid reliability
93/100
Time to PR
5 yrs
EU visa
Easy
RU visa
Complex
UA visa
Easy
Retiree visa
1,767/mo

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 38% cheaper in Lyon ($972/mo vs $1568/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Lyon (26°C vs 24°C).
  • Funchal is safer by homicide rate (0.7 vs 1.6 per 100k).
  • Street-level English is easier in Funchal (72/100 vs 38/100).

Funchal vs Lyon — Common Questions

Is Funchal cheaper than Lyon?

Lyon is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $972/month in Lyon vs $1568/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Funchal or Lyon?

Funchal is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Funchal has a rate of 0.72 per 100,000 and Lyon has 1.56 per 100,000.

Should I move to Funchal or Lyon?

Lyon edges ahead 75 to 68. Funchal isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Is it easier to get residency in Funchal or Lyon?

Funchal: no specific remote work visa. Lyon: France Talent Passport (complex process, Up to 4 years). See each city's profile page for full requirements.

Can I live in Funchal or Lyon without speaking the local language?

Funchal is easier for street-level English (72/100) than Lyon (38/100). That's the score that matters for doctors, landlords, and bureaucracy. Office English can still run higher than street English in both cities.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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